After Naval Drills With Iran, South Africa Faces New U.S. Attacks

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by John Eligon and Zimasa MatiwaneJanuary 28, 2026 at 11:02 AM

Read Original Article

AI Summary

long article 4 min

In January 2026, joint naval exercises off the coast of South Africa, led by China and involving BRICS nations including Russia, the UAE, and Iran, have strained relations between South Africa and the United States. Despite South African President Ramaphosa's request to downgrade Iran's participation to observer status, Iran fully participated, including in live-fire exercises. The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria criticized South Africa for aligning with Iran, accusing it of supporting a regime that represses its people and engages in terrorism. The South African government claims China organized the drills and invitations, but this has not quelled the controversy. This incident marks the second time in six months that President Ramaphosa has appeared unaware of his military's dealings with Iran, further complicating South Africa's relationship with the U.S.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

India 35% Brazil 35% United Arab Emirates 40% Donald Trump 40% U.S. Embassy in Pretoria 50% Russia ×260% China ×370% BRICS ×275% United States ×285% Cyril Ramaphosa ×690% Iran ×790% South Africa ×995%

Keywords

south africa 90% naval exercises 90% iran 80% united states 70% brics 70% cyril ramaphosa 60% diplomatic relations 60% china 50% military relations 50%